Kato · Biography & Innovation

Biography

Tomoaki Kato, MD, is a noted pioneer in multiple-organ transplantation, pediatric and adult liver transplantation, and intestinal transplantation. He serves as Surgical Director of Adult and Pediatric Liver and Intestinal Transplantation at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Irving Medical Center and is a professor of surgery at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. ^[1]

Before coming to New York, Dr. Kato directed pediatric liver and gastrointestinal transplant programs at the University of Miami. He became known for unique surgeries, including six-organ ex vivo transplantation in children and adults, where multiple organs are removed, a large tumor is resected, and the organs are reimplanted in a single marathon operation. ^[8]

In 2020, Dr. Kato developed severe COVID-19 with multiorgan failure, requiring weeks of intensive care and mechanical support. He later returned not only to the operating room but also to long-distance running, completing the New York City Marathon after his recovery. ^[2]

Video Lectures & Interviews

Dr. Kato’s lectures and interviews give patients, trainees, and colleagues a window into how he thinks about liver transplantation, organ scarcity, innovation, and recovery after life-threatening illness.

Kato Innovation Timeline

This simplified timeline highlights selected milestones in Dr. Kato’s innovative career. Dates are approximate and focused on major themes rather than a complete CV.

• Early career – University of Miami

  Leads pediatric liver and gastrointestinal transplant programs and gains recognition for highly complex multiorgan surgeries, including ex vivo and multivisceral procedures. ^[8]

• Six-Organ Ex Vivo Surgery (Pediatric)

  Performs a landmark six-organ ex vivo surgery in a young girl: six organs are removed, a large tumor is resected, and the organs are reimplanted during a 23-hour operation, allowing her to leave the hospital a few weeks later. ^[4][8]

• Columbia & NYP Leadership

  Joins NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia, becoming Surgical Director of Adult and Pediatric Liver and Intestinal Transplantation and later executive director of the Columbia Transplant Initiative, helping shape institutional strategy for transplant innovation. ^[1][6]

• Ex Vivo Liver Resection & Autotransplantation

  Publishes work on ex vivo liver resection and autotransplantation as an emerging option for otherwise unresectable liver tumors, and later as part of outcomes-focused research in Annals of Surgery, helping define indications and safety for this radical technique. ^[5]

• COVID-19 Survival & Public Story

  Shares his experience as a critically ill COVID-19 patient, highlighting the emotional and human side of transplantation and ICU care and offering hope to patients recovering from long, complicated hospitalizations. ^[2][3]

• Domino Split-Liver Transplant in Adults

  Leads a multidisciplinary team to complete the first reported living-donor domino split-liver transplant in adults in the United States—one donor helping save three lives through a highly choreographed, multi-room procedure. ^[9]

Podcast & Audio

For learners who prefer audio, Dr. Kato’s conversations on surgical podcasts give a detailed, behind-the-scenes view of multivisceral transplant surgery, ex vivo techniques, and training the next generation of surgeons.

What Patients Can Take From Kato’s Story

Dr. Kato’s biography is not only a story of surgical innovation—it also illustrates how much experience, teamwork, and perseverance matter in complex liver and multiorgan transplantation.

• If you are told your tumor or condition is “inoperable,” it may still be worthwhile to ask whether ex vivo or multivisceral approaches have been considered at a high-volume transplant center.
• Studies and expert opinion suggest that outcomes for complex liver surgery are often better in centers with specialized, multidisciplinary transplant programs and high case volumes.
• Surgeons like Dr. Kato, who have personally survived critical illness, may bring an added layer of empathy, patience, and understanding to pre-op discussions and postoperative care.